Three Brits finish in top 32

5th March 2012

5th March 2012
It was a weekend of international men’s events this weekend as 24 British fencers took part in competitions across Europe.

Men’s Epee World Cup – Tallinn
The weekend’s action started in Tallinn with a massive entry of 237 fencers including eight from Great Britain. Six survived the first round, Bennett, Harris, Lane, Marsh, Perry and Willis. Allen and Thomas both went out. Willis’s efforts were rewarded with a bye straight through to the second day avoiding the three-fight preliminary knockout stage.

Harris and Perry both went out in the first preliminary knockout to 15-12 to Casagrande (AUS) and 11-10 to Beskin (ISR) respectively. Bennett, Lane and Marsh progressed with byes. At the second knockout stage Bennett lost 15-13 to Abajo (SPN) and Marsh lost to Bogoyavlenskiy (RUS) but Lane beat Canas (VEN) 15-8 to make it to the final preliminary knockout fight where he faced Nishida (JPN). Unfortunately he lost in a close fight 14-12 leaving just Willis left in for Great Britain.

On day two Willis started by beating Tikhomirov (RUS) 15-12 in the round of 64 and then faced world number 9, Imre (HUN). The Hungarian beat him 15-9 leaving Willis placed 20thin the event.

Novosjolov (EST) won his home event beating Grumier (FRA) 15-11 in the final. The bronze medals were won by Alimzhanov (KAZ) and Pizzo (ITA).

Great Britain did not enter the team event on Sunday which was won by Hungary who beat China 28-23. The bronze was won by the USA who comfortably beat Russia 45-36.

Men’s Foil Grand Prix – Venice
Eight British fencers headed to Italy to join a field of 156 at the Grand Prix in Venice. Mepstead and Jeffries did not survive the poules stages, and Cook was knocked out by Lefort in the first preliminary elimination match 15-5. Kruse received a bye to the round of 64 whilst Davis, Kenber, Rosowsky and Tofalides had byes through the first preliminary knockout fight. All four made it through the second preliminary to join Kruse in the round of 64 with Davis comfortably beating Getz (USA) 15-4, Kenber squeezing through 15-14 against Pla Vallbe (SPN), Rosowsky winning 15-10 against Mazza (HUN) and Tofalides taking Chau (HKG) 15-11.

Men’s Sabre Grand Prix - Budapest
Another eight British men were selected to take part in the Grand Prix sabre event in Budapest joining a field of 132. All but Hutchison made the cut – Alex Crutchett, Anthony Crutchett, Gann, Honeybone, Mottershead, O’Connell and Ratneswaren.

Byes were awarded to the Crutchett brothers, Mottershead and Ratneswaren for the first preliminary knockout as Honeybone beat Wang (CHN) 15-13, but O’Connell lost out to teammate Gann, 15-13. Those left in did not make it any further with Alex Crutchett going out to B. Koniusz (POL) 15-12, Anthony Cruthchett 15-9 to Jansen (VEN), Gann 15-11 to Pundyk, Honeybone 15-6 to Igoe (USA), Mottershead 15-3 to Lontay (HUN) and Ratneswaren 15-7 to M. Koniusz (POL).

The event was won by Limbach (GER) who beat Szilagy (HUN). The bronze medals were won by Yakimenko (RUS) and Won (KOR).